Fishing and convenience stool



Feb. 25, 1964 A. MINTZ FISHING AND CONVENIENCE-STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 6, 1962 INVENTOR ARTHUR MINTZ ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 A. MlNTZ 3,122,397

FISHING AND CONVENIENCE STOOL Filed Nov 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR L. MINTZ gww TTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice SJZZBW Patented Feb. 25, 1964 3,122,397 FISHING AND CONVENENCE STOGL Arthur L. Mintz, Hollywood, Fla, assignor to Caschorne Company Inc, Hialeah, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 235,663 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-192) 'This invention relates to a convenience stool of the type that is provided with a support that includes a pair of U-shaped frames that are pivotally connected together and whereby the frames may be collapsed with respect to each other to facilitate the carrying or storing of the device.

The invention contemplates a collapsible stool device primarily for use in connection with fishing, sport shooting etc., and whereby to provide a seat forming device that is supported upon the upper rails of the leg members and with the seat device embodying a flexible receptacle for supporting fishing or various accessories and with the seating device being removable.

The invention further contemplates a seating device having a pair of U-shaped supporting elements that are pivotally connected together to permit the seating device to be collapsed under certain conditions and with the seating device embodying also a fixed support that is formed of webbing strips that are attached at their opposite ends to rail portions of the support to support the weight of a person sitting thereon and with the webbing supports also providing a square or rectangular opening into which may be engaged a flexible bag and whereby the bag may constitute a commode.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stool constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle for engagement with the stool,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE '1,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the stool illustrating the fixed supporting strips that are connected to the cross rails of the stool, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view fragmentarily illustrating the connection for the receptacle,

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a collapsible stool embodying a pair of U-shaped frame members 5, having leg portions 6 that are pivotally connected together at 7. The leg portions are connected by horizontal rails 8. The legs 6 are preferably provided with ferrules 9, formed of plastic or rubber to prevent the legs from shifting laterally when the stool is engaged with a relatively firm surface.

Adapted to be connected to the rails 8 in a relatively permanent manner, see particularly FIGURE 5, are a pair of spaced apart webbing strips 10, that have their terminal ends wrapped around the rails 8 and fixed thereto by the base portions of connector buttons 11. The strips are formed of any desirable plastic or textile webbing and are of such length that the stool may be extended to a full seating position. The Webbing strips 10 are connected together by spaced apart webbing strips 12, stitched or otherwise connected to the strips in a manner to form a generally square or rectangular opening 13. With the strips 10 and '12 fixed to the rails 8, the stool may be opened to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 or the stool may be collapsed in a manner generally recognized in cross legged camp stools. The strips 10 also limit the swinging movement of the leg 6 and the strips 10 and '12 constitute a reinforced frame member for the overlying support of a combined seat and receptacle, to be hereinafter described.

Adapted to be detachably connected to the rails 8 in overlying relation to the strips 10 and 12 is a receptacle, indicated as a whole by the numeral 14, see particularly FIGURES 1-3. The receptacle 14 includes an upper seat forming strip of textile material 15 of rectangular form and having extended end portions 16 that are adapted to be partially wrapped around the rails 8. The extensions 16 are provided with eyelets 17 that are adapted to engage the buttons '11 and, when the extensions 1&5 are engaged with the buttons 11, upon the underside of the rails 8, the strip 15 will be in a position to lie substantially parallel with the supporting strips 15* and 12 and, when the stool is extended to a seat forming position, will constitute a seating platform upon which the user may sit. The marginal edges of the strip 15 are obviously reinforced by stitching or otherwise. Stitched or otherwise connected to the strip 15 inwardly from the extensions 16 are straps of textile material 13 that are looped intermediate their ends at 19, to form a pair of handles to facilitate the carrying of the device when the stool is in the collapsed position.

Stitched or otherwise connected to the strip 15, is a pouch of textile material, having side walls 20' and end walls 21. The pouch being normally open at its top is stitched to the underside of the strip 15, as shown at 22. The end walls 21 may be foldable inwardly when the stool is collapsed so as to provide a relatively narrow receptacle when the stool is shifted to a collapsed position. One wall 20 of the pouch is provided with a longitudinal slide fastener 23, providing access to the interior of the pouch. The opposite wall 20 may be provided with convenience pockets 24 for the reception of various articles such as might be employed by fishermen, sportsmen or plastic bag indicated at 25 and with the marginal edges of the bag overlying the strips 10 and 12 and rolled down over the rails 8 to constitute a receptacle whereby the device may constitute a commode.

In the use of the device, with the strips 15 and 12 being connected together and fixed with respect to the rails 8 and with the receptacle 14 being pre-assembled, the recep tacle is engaged through the opening 13 to dispose the pouch, in a depending position with respect to the frame formed by the strips 10 and 12. The extensions 16 are then engaged around the rails 8 and connected to the buttons 11, forming a seat upon which the user may sit. The strip 15 will be supported by the Webbing strips 10 and 12, relieving to a large extent any strain that may be placed upon the strip and the connecting buttons 11 when a person sits thereon. Various fishing gear or the like may be engaged into the receptacle through the openings of the slide fastener 23, while other objects may be engaged into the pockets 24. When the device is to be moved from place to place, the stool legs are collapsed together and carried by the loops 19. When the device is to be employed as a commode, the receptacle is removed by turning the buttons 11 and bodily removing the strip 15 and the pouch, leaving the opening 13 formed by the strips 1% and 12. A bag of any desirable material is then inserted through the opening 13 to depend therefrom, as shown in FIGURE 5 and its edges wrapped U around the upper end of the stool, permitting a. person to sit thereon and be supported by the strips 19 and 12. After the bag has been employed, it is removed and disposed of in any desirable manner.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel and simple means has been formed to provide a sitting and storage means for fishermen and the like and permits the device to be collapsed so that it can be carried by the loops 19 from place to place. The leg members are preferably formed of tubular light weight metallic construction and the frame formed by strips and 12 limit the opening of the stool to an operative position for supporting either the receptacle 14 or the commode forming bag 25. The device is simple in construction, is strong, durable and most effective as a convenience stool for fishermen or the like and effectively provides a seating article that is convenient for the storage of various articles and easily transported from place to place.

The bag 25, for convenience in handling and storing is produced in a fiat folded form for subsequent unfolding and inserting through the opening 13 and after insertion, the marginal edge of the bag is rolled over the frame and constitutes a sanitary support for the user. Thus, the stool and the bag provide a most desirable sanitary commode of a collapsable type and may be employed in any area where privacy is permitted and it is also contemplated that the commode may be employed in hospitals where sanitation is of utmost importance.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fishing and convenience stool of the character described that comprises a support consisting of a pair of U-shaped frames that are pivotally connected together to swing toward and from each other, the frames each forming a pair of legs that are connected together to form a head rail, textile strips that extend between the head rails to limit the swinging of the frames away from each other, the strips at their opposite ends being fixedly connected to the rails, each of the strips being connected together by textile strips that are parallel with the rails and whereby the several strips define an opening and with the strips also constituting a weight supporting frame, a textile seat-forming strip that is adapted to have overlying engagement with the first-named strips and where-by the seat-forming strip is re-inforced to carry the weight of a person sitting thereon, the seat-forming strip having its opposite ends detachably connected to the rails and a flexible receptacle fixedly connected to the underside of the seat-forming strip and extending downwardly through the opening defined by the first named strips.

2. A fishing and convenience stool of the cross legged type that comprises a pair of supporting elements of U-shape, each element comprising parallel legs and an integral head rail, the legs intermediate their length being pivotally connected together and whereby the legs are movable to permit a collapsing of the stool, a flexible weight supporting element that comprises a pair of spaced apart textile straps having their opposite ends fixedly connected to the opposite rails, the straps inwardly from the rails being connected together by additional straps and whereby to define a generally square opening, a seating device that comprises an elongated strip of textile material that has its opposite ends detachably connected to the rails, the seating device overlying and supported upon the first named straps and whereby the straps constitute the weight bearing means for the stool, a receptacle of generally rectangular form that is connected to the under side of the seating device and to depend through the opening formed by the straps, the sat forming strip being provided with a pair of handle devices that are disposed in parallel relation to the rails and whereby to provide a carrying support for the stool in a col-lapsed position.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the connection for the ends of the first named straps are provided with connector buttons and the terminal ends of the seat forming strip are provided with eyelets that engage the buttons and whereby to detachably connect the seat to the support, the seat adjacent its terminal ends being provided with strips of textile material that are stitched thereto and with the strips being looped intermediate their ends to form handles, the said receptacle embodying a pouch that is formed open at its upper end and with the marginal edge of the opening being stitched to the underside of the seat forming strip, the said pouch upon one side being provided with an opening having a slide fastener, the opposite side of the pouch being provided with a pair of open pockets. w

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the opening defined by the straps is exposed when the seat forming device is removed, the opening adapted to receive a disposable bag that depends below the said straps and with the bag having its marginal portions rolled over the rails and whereby the straps and the bag constitute both a weight supporting device and a commode.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the U-shaped frames are formed of tubular light weight metal, the straps being formed of relatively heavy woven textile material and with the straps and the seat forming strip being collapsible together to permit the carrying of the device by the said handles.

6. The structure according to claim 4, wherein the disposable bag is initially folded for subsequent unfolding and insertion through the opening, the marginal portions of the bag when rolled over the rails completely covering the rails and the support and to constitute a sanitary surface for engagement by the user and fully supported by the weight supporting device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,740 Wernli et al Jan. 6, 1925 1,855,714 Hutchinson Apr. 26, 1932 2,201,630 Murtha May 21, 1940 2,264,744 Dunnam Dec. 2, .1941 2,649,894 Simmons Aug. 25, 1953 2,801,426 La Gorce et al Aug. 6, 1957 2,843,185 Clem et al July 25, 1958 2,865,133 Hoven et al Dec. 23, 1958 2,909,215 Mitchell Oct. 20, 1959 2,987,109 Sohmer June 6, 1961 3,063,061 Bertram Nov. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 861,697 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1961 875,087 Germany i. Apr. 30, 

1. A FISHING AND CONVENIENCE STOOL OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED THAT COMPRISES A SUPPORT CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF U-SHAPED FRAMES THAT ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TO SWING TOWARD AND FROM EACH OTHER, THE FRAMES EACH FORMING A PAIR OF LEGS THAT ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER TO FORM A HEAD RAIL, TEXTILE STRIPS THAT EXTEND BETWEEN THE HEAD RAILS TO LIMIT THE SWINGING OF THE FRAMES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THE STRIPS AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO THE RAILS, EACH OF THE STRIPS BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER BY TEXTILE STRIPS THAT ARE PARALLEL WITH THE RAILS AND WHEREBY THE SEVERAL STRIPS DEFINE AN OPENING AND WITH THE STRIPS ALSO CONSTITUTING A WEIGHT SUPPORTING FRAME, A TEXTILE SEAT-FORMING STRIP THAT IS ADAPTED TO HAVE OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FIRST-NAMED STRIPS AND WHEREBY THE SEAT-FORMING STRIP IS RE-INFORCED TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON SITTING THEREON, THE SEAT-FORMING STRIP HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE RAILS AND A FLEXIBLE RECEPTACLE FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SEAT-FORMING STRIP AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE OPENING DEFINED BY THE FIRST NAMED STRIPS. 